Show Message Text On Philippine Freedom Bill WASHINGTON March 2 AThe JP- JP The text of President Roosevelt's me message sage to congress on Philippine Independence follows To the congress Over a third of a century ago the United States as a n result of a war which had Its it origin In the Caribbean sea acquired sovereignty sovereignty sov soy over the Philippine Is Islands Js Is lands which lie many thousands thousand of miles mile from our shor shores across the widest of oceans Our nation covets no territory It d desires fres to hold no people over whom it has hu gained sovereignty through war against their will In keeping with the principles of justice and In keeping with wilh our traditions and aims ainu our government government government gov gov- for m many ny years has been committed d by law to ultimate independence for for forthe the people of the Philippine Islands whenever they should establish a suitable government over capable of maintaining maintain maIntain- lug ing that Independence Law Pawed Passed Once A Jaw law passed by the s seventy seventy- second congress over a year ago was the initial step providing the them m methods thod conditions and circumstances circumstances circum circum- stances under which our promise was to be fulfilled That act provided provided provided pro pro- pro pro- vided that the United States would retain the option of keeping keep keep- ing certain military and naval bases in fn the ilan islands after actual independence had been pUshed As AI to the military bases e I recommend that this provision be eliminated from the thc law and that these bases base be relinquished simultaneously simultaneously si si- si with the accomplishment accomplishment of final Philippine independence independence in in- dependence As to the naval bases I recommend recommend recommend mend that the law b bO so amended as s to provide for the ultimate settlement set set- of this matter on terms satisfactory to our own government government government govern govern- ment and that of the Philippine islands Sees No Other Changes Chanles I do not believe that other provisions provisions provisions pro pro- visions of ot the original law need be cha changed ged at this time Ume Where Imperfections or inequalities exist ex cx- 1st I am confident that they can be corrected after proper hearing and in fairness to both peoples I L emphasize that while we desire de do sire ire to grant complete independence dence at the earliest proper mo mc- to ment effect this result without allowing sufficient time Ume for necessary necessary sary ury political and economic adjustments ad would be a definite in in- justice to the people o of the PhilIS i pine islands uland th themselves U I J short of a denial of independence Itself To change at t this thia time time the te e ee economic provision nt of the pevious pe- pe re vio law would reflect discredit dit on ourselves In view of the fact that the time element Is involved I sug lUg Rest get that the law be amended a a aI l I have above suggested that and the time limit for th the acceptance of the law by the proper author author- tics ties and by the people of th the the Philippine islands be sufficiently extended to permit them to reconsider reconsider re- re re- re consider it Fo For 36 38 years the relations b between be- be between be r tween the people of the pine Islands and the people of ci the I. I United States have I and of great mutual benefit I am an confident that if it this legislation j. j is passed by the congress and lei aI tc by the Philippines we baU increase the mutual regard bei be be- i tween the two peoples during the thi transition period After the at at- of actual independence I Iby by them friendship and trust will live FRANKLIN D. D ROOSEVELT ROOSEVEL S |